Composition and method for treating nails



3,034,965 COMPOSITION AND METHOD FOR TREATING NAILS Rose P. Drake and Leota F. Whitiey, both of P.O. Box' 3653, Tulsa, Okla. N Drawing. Filed June, 12, 1958, Ser. No. 741,466 3 Claims. (Cl. 167-85) This invention relates to improvements in beauty aids, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a liquid composition for strengthening and enhancing the beauty of fingernails.

Many of the chemicals used in fingernail base compositions, nail polish removers, and the like, in the modern day treatment of fingernails cause the fingernails to become dry and brittle. The dry fingernails have a tendency to split and break off easily, thereby detracting from the appearance thereof. In addition, it is difficult to manicure the split and broken nails with any degree of pleasing results, and the manicuring process frequently becomes quite painful.

The present invention contemplates a novel nail base composition adapted to be applied directly to the fingernails. The nail base of the invention is beneficial to the physical structure of the fingernail in that it counteracts the ill effects of the chemicals present in the polish removers, and the like. The nail base substantially eliminates brittleness and dryness of the fingernail from any cause whatsoever, thereby greatly lessening the breaking and splitting thereof. In addition, the novel composition has certain inherent anesthetic qualities that reduce the pain of the split nails during the time period of the conditioning thereof by the use of the nail base. Furthermore, the novel nail base may be applied to the nails immediately prior to the application of a suitable fingernail polish, if desired. The nail base serves to protect the nails from harmful effects of the nail polish, and at the same time it has been found that the fingernail polish applied directly over the improved nail base composition tends to adhere to the nails for a longer period of time. Thus, not only is the health and condition of the fingernails improved, but the beauty thereof is also greatly enhanced.

if is an important object of this invention to provide a novel chemical composition for utilization on fingernails.

it is another object of this invention to provide a novel fingernail base composition for conditioning the fingernails in a manner to improve the physical condition thereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved fingernail base composition for precluding the dryness thereof.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a novel fingernail base composition for conditioning the fingernails in a manner to greatly reduce any splitting or breaking thereof.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel nail base composition for increasing the adherent qualities of the nail polish applied to the nails over the base composition.

A still further object of this invention is to provide an improved nail base composition for fingernails wherein an anesthetic quality is provided for reducing the painful condition of the previously split and broken nails.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a fingernail base composition which is simple and efficient in utilization and economical in manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be evident from the following detailed description.

The composition of the novel nail base generally comprises an aqueous preparation containing a quaternary ammonium halide, a polyoxyethylene ether, and an amine "ice fat soap. It has been found that the following ratio of the ingredients is preferable:

Part by weight Quaternary ammonium halide 3.0 Polyoxyethylene ether 1.5 Amine fat soap (such as oiled soap in cosmetics) 0.5 Water 95.0

The composition is a somewhat oily liquid, and has yielded many surprising results not obvious prior to the combining of the ingredients. It is known that quaternary ammonium halides are beneficial in the treatment of hair, but the combination of the ammonium halides with the amine fat soap and polyoxyethylene ether produces a composition having additional and unexpected qualities highly desirable in the treatment of fingernails.

Referring to the nail base composition more specifically, the ingredients found to provide the most favorable mixture and yield the best results are as follows:

Parts by weight Stearyltrimethylammonium chloride 3.0 Nonylphenol +10 moles ethyleneoxide 1.5 Trihydroxyethylamine stearate 0.5

Water 95.0

Equivalent mixtures wherein the nonylphenol polyoxyethylene ether was omitted did not appear to provide the desired results. However, the above combination of chemicals produced a highly desirable result for use with fingernails. The mixture greatly improves the physical health of the fingernails'and substantially eliminates the splitting thereof.

In addition, the mixture tends to retain fingernail polish on the nails for a prolonged life therefor. It is thought that the combination of polyoxyethylene ether and amine soap provides the dramatic effect of retaining the fingernail polish on the nails. It will be apparent that the undercoating of the fingernails with the nail base composition prior to the application of fingernail polish will be bene ficial to the nails. The coating of the base composition protects the fingernails from any harmful effects or drying of the nails due to any of the chemicals present in the polish.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that the present invention provides a novel combination of ingredients which yield surprising and unexpected results for the treatment of fingernails. The base composition overcomes dry 1 ness and brittleness of fingernails to substantially preclude any splitting thereof. The general physical condition of the fingernails is greatly improved upon use of the base composition. In addition, the slightly anesthetic qualities of the composition ease any pain which may result from the previous splitting of the nails. Furthermore, fingernail polish applied directly over a coating of the base composition tends to adhere to the nails for a longer period of time, thereby enhancing the results of a manicure treatment. The novel base composition is simple and efficient in utilization and is economical in manufacture.

Changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of elements as heretofore set forth in the specification, it being understood that any modification in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of the following claims without departing from the spirit of the invention.

We claim: I

l. A nail base composition comprising stearyltrimethylammonium chloride 3.0 parts by weight, nonylphenol plus 10 moles ethyleneoxide 1.5 parts by weight, trihydroxyethylamine stearate 0.5 part by weight, and Water 95.0 parts by weight.

2. The method of treating fingernails which comprises applying thereto an aqueous solution comprising stearyl- 3 4 trimethylammonium chloride, nonylphenol plus 10 moles. 2,213,477 Steindorfi Sept. 3, 1940 ethyleneoxide, and trihydroxyethylamine stearate. 2,577,773 Lambert Dec. 11, 1951 3. The method of treating fingernails which comprises 2,677,700 Jackson May 4, 1954 applying thereto a nail base comprising stearyltrimethyl- OTHER REFERENCES ammonium chloride 3.0 parts by Weight, nonylphenol plus 10 moles ethyleneoxide 1.5 pans by weight, trihydroxyethylamine stearate 0.5 part by weight, and Water 95.0

Sagarin: Cosmetics, Sci. and Tech., Interscience Pub., N.Y., 1957, pp. 101-103, 124-127, 164-167, 551 and 552. Botwright: J. Soc. Cos. Chemists, August 1, 1952, pp.

parts by weight. 118423 References Cited in the file of this patent 10 i; and Tech" Intersclence UNITED STATES PATENTS Harry: Modern Cosmeticology, Leonard Hill Ltd., Lonr 2,189,664 Katzman Feb, 6, 1940 1 4th 1955, pp- 

1. A NAIL BASE COMPOSITION COMPRISING STEARYLTRIMETHYLAMMONIUM CHLORIDE 3.0 PARTS BY WEIGHT, NONYLPHENOL PLUS 10 MOLES ETHYLENEOXIDE 1.5 PARTS BY WEIGHT, TRIHYDROXYETHYLAMINE STEARATE 0.5 PART BY WEIGHT, AND WATER 95.0 PARTS BY WEIGHT. 